OK, so they both involve organisers, internal combustion engines and drivers but neither event would happen without marshals.
There has been lengthy articles in Revolution magazine from Motor Sport UK recently about marshalling which rather makes these notes superfluous, but you’re getting my thoughts anyway!
I’m a firm believer that if you take something out of motorsport by competing on any type of event, you should put something back, in due course. I had a whale of a time competing on road rallies (150 miles, six figure map references pre plotted, selectives timed to the second, all on the public highway on a Saturday night – targa rallies are so tame in comparison), sprints and autotests as well as co-driving on stage rallies then Clerk of Course for the Chieftain stage rally. Inevitably marriage and a mortgage got in the way and now my competing days are behind me, so I go marshalling whenever and wherever I can. I’m putting something back, and so should you, and it’s not a problem if you’ve never actually competed on any event, you can still be a marshal.
The critical events to marshal on are the ones run by our own club of course, but it is also good to marshal on other club’s events – they help us, so we should help them when asked. Don’t worry if you’ve never marshalled before, people will be more than willing to ‘show you the ropes’, just ask if necessary and help will be forthcoming.
I would encourage anyone and everyone to volunteer as a marshal. You get close to the action, have an influence on the result of the event, meet a wide range of people and you will learn something from every event that you assist on - and you can take pride in a job well done. As an example of meeting fellow enthusiasts, I was marshalling at the top of Porlock hill on the Exmoor Targa last October; the five person radio crew came from Westward Ho! And the other marshal that I was paired with came from Exeter, and he had a Frogeye Sprite in his garage which he uses on competitive classic rallies. We had good interesting conversations and a real good laugh!
There’s rarely any recompense for marshalling beyond thanks and a ‘Goody Bag’ of a drink, bag of crisps and, if the organisers are really generous, a bar of chocolate. The exception is assisting Dick Pease on setting up and manning the gate at Castle Combe where you can get a free seasons pass to all events at Castle Combe, after doing two or three turns helping out – for just four hours of your time that surely is the bargain of the Century. You don’t have to do both days at Castle Combe – you can do either one of the two days or both days if you wish.
Check out events which happen frequently: Castle Combe entry marshalling, Autosolo at Kemble, Great Western Vintage Classic and the Castle Combe stages rally and offer assistance to the organisers. They will welcome you with open arms and you will be putting something into motor sport which it cannot do without.
Drop Bath Motor club a line via the contact details for queries, questions or offers of assistance with marshalling www.bathmotorclub.co.uk/contact-us/
For information on Castle Combe contact Dick Pease dick.pease1945@gmail.com
Interestingly enough at the Castle Combe Stages Rally, 70 out of 70 competitors set off from the start line giving it loads of welly, but 62 out of 70 competitors lifted off the throttle BEFORE crossing the flying finish line. Daft or what?
Stan Cole - October 2024
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